lewis



(No Model.)

W. H. LEWIS. PHOT OGRAPHIG CAMERA.

No. 439,804. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

l/VVE/VTOI? $4 ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATas PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. LEW'IS, OF HUNTING ON, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. & II. T. ANTHONY & COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,804, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed March 5, 1890. Serial No. 342,729. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Huntington, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras; and it consists in novel to construction and operation of the parts of the apparatus adjacent to and coacting with the groundglass frame and the plate-holding frame.

In certain respect-s my present invention is allied to that for which I obtained a patent dated March 27, 1888, and numbered 379,964, upon which invention this present one is in part an improvement.

In the drawings the same reference-letters 29 indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a side view of the rear part of the camera-box and of the ground glass holder, partly broken away,

2 5 showing the holder as in position against the rear of the camera-box. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the ground-glass holder as retracted away from the rear of the camera-box. Fig. tis a detail showing the method of securing the ground-glass holder against the rear side of the plate-holder when it is in position. Fig. 5 is aview of the bottom edge or side of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

A is the rear of the camera-box.

5 B is a fiat frame, which is held to the rear of the camera-box by spring-clips G C, &c., or in any other suitable manner.

D D are two raised ribs, formed on the back of the flat frame B, upon the upper edges of which, respectively, are fastened springs E E and metallic pieces F F.

G G is the ground-glass frame. The ground glass is held in it by metallic clips H H, which have parts I I, &c., which overlap the glass J, 5 or in any other suitable manner.

K K are pieces of metal fastened to the outer side of the glass-frame G, which, extending laterally therefrom, turn at right angles and pass inwardly toward the camera through 50 slots L L, made in the metallic pieces or plates F F. The inner ends of these metallic parts K K, after passing through slots K K, made in the flat frame B, are received within and protected by hoods or casings M, of wood or other suitable material, fastened to the inner side of the flat frame B.

The springs E bear, respectively, upon the pieces of metal K K and normally tend to press them and the ground-glass frame toward the flat frame B. The slots in the metal plates F F are of such dimensions relative to the width and thickness of the metallic pieces K K that they have free movement through them. At or near their free ends the pieces K K are provided with notches N, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) and immediately above them there are other notches, one in each piece K, (marked 0.) The outermost edge 0 of these notches is cut on a bevel, as shown.

0 O are cross-pieces at the ends of the parts K of such length that they cannot pass through the slots L in the plates F, but can pass through the slots K in the fiat frame.

P P are strips, preferablyof metal, although they may be upwardly-extending wooden or other parts of the frame B, which serve to hold the sensitive-plate holder in position.

X is a pull-strap for manipulating the ground-glass frame.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The focus is obtained and the picture is brought properly within the field while the ground-glass frame is close against the rear of the camera, as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen in this position, the ground-glass frame is in exactly the position which the sensitive surface subsequently occupies. When this is done, the pull-strap X is grasped and pulled outwardly and somewhat upwardly or laterally, as the case may be, which causes the ground- 0 glass frame to tilt on the axis formed by the contact between the springs E and the metal pieces F, and the springs are put under tension as the ground-glass frame moves outwardly or away from the camera when it has assumed a position in which the crosspieces 0 come in contact with the plates F. Then a slight pull upwardly or laterally on the strap, supplemented by the endwise thrust of the springs E, sets the edges F of the plates F into the notches N of the metallic pieces K. Thus the ground-glass frame is held retracted against the stress of the springs E. The plateholder containing the sensitive plate or surface, whatever it may be, is then slid into its place between the retracted ground-glass frame and the end of the camera-box until it fits properly against the rear thereof between the raised strips or ledges P P. The ground-glass frame is then pressed backwardly or downwardly again, as the case may be, until the notches N release their hold, and then the springs E instantly press the ground-glass frame snugly against the rear of the plate-holder, confining it in place; but in order that it may not be moved, however slightly, at the time of drawing the slide the ground-glass frame is then again-pulled in a direct line across the rear of the camera, which causes the same edge F of the plate F to enter the second notch O in the piece K. The beveled side 0' whereof then exerts a camlike action, and the ground-glass frame is crowded firmly against the rear of the plateholder, which is thus rigidly locked in position and cannot be moved by such force as will be exerted upon it by the act of drawing the slide.

The advantages of my present invention as compared with my former one are many. Among them, the means of sustaining, guiding, and holdingthe-ground-glass-plate-i. 6., the parts K K, are attached to the groundglass frame and extendinwardly and are protected by the other adjacent parts, whereas in the insertion of the plate-holder, the supports having inclined notches whereby the groundglass frame may be crowded against the frame supporting the sensitive surface, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a photographic camera, of a ground-glass holder having upon its sides notched supports projecting toward the camera and springs which engage with the supports and coacting with them hold the plate in two positions, the supports being provided with a notch adapted to engage with a suitable device on the main frame, whereby the ground-glass frame may be crowded against the frame supporting the sensitive surface, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a photographic camera, of a ground-glass holder having upon its sides supports which extend toward the camera, which supports engage with springsattached to the main frame and normally'press the ground-glass frame toward the camera, said supports being provided with a plurality of notches, one of which in each support e11- gages with a suitable device onthe main frame,-whereby the ground-glass frame is supported in its most rearwardjposition, and the others engaging with said devices press the ground-glass frame against the support for the sensitive surface, substantially as set forth.

Signed at NewYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1890. v v w WILLIAM H. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, FREDERICK SMITH. 

